Volleyball teams miss out on medals
As the saying goes, it isn't over until the fat lady sings; or until the volleyball hits the floor for the last time. When this moment occurs many things happen. For some it's ecstatic cheering and yelling in victory and for others the sad burden of defeat. Some players get nostalgic, remembering the past season or seasons especially if it is their last game, while others look forward to the next season with eagerness and excitement. The season has come to an end for our volleyball teams and as we look back we see both defeat and victory.
At the beginning of the season hopes were high for both teams. Both head coaches Lloyd Rumble and Josh Westgate were excited at the talent they had in their team ranks. But a team is not made of its talent, but its chemistry. Baseball legend Babe Ruth said it best: “The way a team plays as a whole determines its success. You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don't play together, the club won't be worth a dime.”
So the coaches set out to work the teams from raw talent into a well-bonded group. The culmination of this training occurred with the OCAA volleyball championships. Before the tournament began, the women handily beat out Georgian in their qualifier to earn a date with Durham as their first game of the tournament. The men had to go up against the team from Loyalist College in their qualifier and handily beat them in a 3-0 match. But things for the men would not be so easy from that point on.
Earlier in the season men's coach Westgate noted that it is very intimidating playing at Redeemer because nearly the entire student body attends the games and so when you walk into the big gym that is full of cheering fans, all cheering against you, you can get lost and scared fast. This seemed to be the case again in the men's quarter final against the home team of Redeemer. After a tough battle Redeemer won a 3-0 match sending the Falcons off of the road to gold. But it was not out of the medal picture, the men had a chance to win their next game putting them within bronze. This was not meant to be either as Fanshawe lost to Mohawk in another 3-0 match knocking them out of the tournament.
The women would fare better, however, with a fourth place finish.
“The overall result was not as hoped as the goal was to win a medal. The performance in the tournament and especially in the bronze medal game was outstanding. I am very proud of the girls,” said Rumble. “Everyone was disappointed with the result but all feel that the possibilities for next season are very encouraging with such a young roster.”
There is always next year, but Rumble had one thing to say walking away from the tournament.
“Stay in the moment and play each point as an individual competitive battle. It is important to train at a level that can match the intensity of a championship medal competition.”
These are important words that could very well shape this team's results for next year. And now that the season has come to a close it signals the end of the year's approach. Soon exams will be on us, the summer will begin and then soon enough training camp will begin for another volleyball season. And who knows, maybe next year the Falcons will be the ones standing on the podium holding onto a gold medal.
At the beginning of the season hopes were high for both teams. Both head coaches Lloyd Rumble and Josh Westgate were excited at the talent they had in their team ranks. But a team is not made of its talent, but its chemistry. Baseball legend Babe Ruth said it best: “The way a team plays as a whole determines its success. You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don't play together, the club won't be worth a dime.”
So the coaches set out to work the teams from raw talent into a well-bonded group. The culmination of this training occurred with the OCAA volleyball championships. Before the tournament began, the women handily beat out Georgian in their qualifier to earn a date with Durham as their first game of the tournament. The men had to go up against the team from Loyalist College in their qualifier and handily beat them in a 3-0 match. But things for the men would not be so easy from that point on.
Earlier in the season men's coach Westgate noted that it is very intimidating playing at Redeemer because nearly the entire student body attends the games and so when you walk into the big gym that is full of cheering fans, all cheering against you, you can get lost and scared fast. This seemed to be the case again in the men's quarter final against the home team of Redeemer. After a tough battle Redeemer won a 3-0 match sending the Falcons off of the road to gold. But it was not out of the medal picture, the men had a chance to win their next game putting them within bronze. This was not meant to be either as Fanshawe lost to Mohawk in another 3-0 match knocking them out of the tournament.
The women would fare better, however, with a fourth place finish.
“The overall result was not as hoped as the goal was to win a medal. The performance in the tournament and especially in the bronze medal game was outstanding. I am very proud of the girls,” said Rumble. “Everyone was disappointed with the result but all feel that the possibilities for next season are very encouraging with such a young roster.”
There is always next year, but Rumble had one thing to say walking away from the tournament.
“Stay in the moment and play each point as an individual competitive battle. It is important to train at a level that can match the intensity of a championship medal competition.”
These are important words that could very well shape this team's results for next year. And now that the season has come to a close it signals the end of the year's approach. Soon exams will be on us, the summer will begin and then soon enough training camp will begin for another volleyball season. And who knows, maybe next year the Falcons will be the ones standing on the podium holding onto a gold medal.
